Former racing driver Juan Pablo Montoya suggests that Mercedes may not need Max Verstappen after all. The four-time world champion was frequently linked with a transfer to the Silver Arrows earlier this year. A move to Brackley remains plausible in the future. However, Montoya believes that Mercedes already has a future world champion in George Russell – the Brit could be just as good as Verstappen.
Russell is still embroiled in contract negotiations with his current employer. Toto Wolff confirmed during the race weekend in Singapore that Mercedes will continue with the same line-up in 2026, although an official announcement is still pending. The delay is partly due to Mercedes openly flirting with Verstappen in the first half of the season. Given Red Bull’s disappointing performance, a transfer seemed imminent at the time, but Verstappen pledged his loyalty to the Austrians over the summer.
Some experts speculate that a potential collaboration with Verstappen is still hindering Russell. The Brit wants to sign a long-term deal, but Wolff is sticking to the shorter contracts that Mercedes traditionally uses. Montoya, however, does not believe that the German racing team needs Verstappen, precisely because of Russell’s current level. The 27-year-old Brit has already won two Grand Prix this year and is particularly notable for his consistency.
‘Russell Secures a Contract’
“I don’t know what Toto Wolff is thinking, but Russell has already shown that Mercedes doesn’t need Verstappen at all,” said the Colombian in his podcast for AS. “They already have Russell, and he could be as good as Verstappen in the future. This essentially shows that Wolff is saying, ‘We need someone for the future.’ But Russell is that person.”
Kimi Antonelli, who also doesn’t have a contract for 2026 yet, is highly regarded by Wolff and is being groomed to eventually become the face of Mercedes. However, Montoya believes that the young Italian will have to make way if Verstappen ever comes to Brackley – not Russell. “Given Russell’s current performance, he is forcing Mercedes to say, ‘Whatever he wants, we will have to concede,'” concluded the seven-time race winner. “He has won two races this year with a car that theoretically wasn’t even capable of winning.”
